MARKETPLACE WINES?

The majority of the wines we list are sourced from the market. This includes direct from growers, exclusive distributors and agents and European Trade stockholders.
The typical lead time for consolidation, shipping and arrival into our cellars from confirmed order is approximately 6 to 8 weeks.

IMMEDIATE WINES?

These are immediately available wines are held in our temperature-controlled cellars at London City Bond. Please note, if your order contains 'immediate' and 'marketplace' wines, these will be delivered together.

The majority of the wines we list are sourced from the market. This includes direct from growers, exclusive distributors and agents and European Trade stockholders.

The typical lead time for consolidation, shippinng and arrival into our cellars from confirmed order is approximately 6 to 8 weeks.

Once we have received your wines, we will deliver to your chosen UK or International address or transfer to your chosen storage account.

WHAT ARE 'IMMEDIATE' WINES?

These are immediately available wines held in our temperature-controlled cellars at London City Bond.

All of the wines have been rigorously checked by our warehouse staff and condition reports, including photographs, are available on request.

Next day delivery is available to all London addresses and for other UK addresses delivery is typically within one week. International delivery is also available.

EN PRIMEUR WINES

The 'ORDER' status means that these wines are now available for you to buy. Collection of your wines is arranged once they have been bottled and released by the producers. Lead times for bottling can vary between 6-24 months, or sometimes even longer depending on the wine. On arrival your wines are landed into your own bonded storage account, or delivered to your instructions at current rates. We highly recommend storage in our fully insured, climate controlled and secure bonded facility, where your wines can mature quietly and undisturbed until they reach their drinking window, or from where they can be sold at the click of a mouse.

The '+ALERT ME' status signifies that these wines are likely to become available soon or that we have currently sold out and are actively seeking more via our extensive network. By clicking Alert Me, you will be informed via email as soon as it becomes available.

Please note that delivery to UK and EU addresses attract duty and VAT, which can only be invoiced at the time of delivery.

We actively track thousands of prices across Europe every day, immediately reacting to any price movement and enabling us to list thousands of wines at very competitive prices. Our prices 'float' with the market, and if the market for any wine moves, then our prices will reflect that.

EN PRIMEUR PRICES

En Primeur prices are quoted ‘in bond’, i.e. without duty or VAT, but do include transport to our world-class bonded storage facility at London City Bond in Tilbury.

Collection of your wines is arranged once they have been bottled and released by the producers. Lead times for bottling can vary between 6-24 months, or sometimes even longer depending on the wine.

On arrival your wines are landed into your own bonded storage account, or delivered to your instructions at current rates. We highly recommend storage in our fully insured, climate controlled and secure bonded facility, where your wines can mature quietly and undisturbed until they reach their drinking window, or from where they can be sold at the click of a mouse.

Please note that delivery to UK and EU addresses attract duty and VAT, which can only be invoiced at the time of delivery.

This wine has been flagged as less than 'perfect condition' (taking into consideration its age). The relevant indicators can include: lower content level, bin-soiled label, damaged cap etc. As a result, this is available at a discounted market price.

‘DP’ shown against a price indicates that UK Duty has already been paid.

For UK and EU customers it means that VAT must be charged as the wine is no longer ‘In Bond’. It does not affect non-EU export orders.

What Are ‘En Primeur’ Wines?

‘En primeur’ wines, or wine ‘futures’ are those that are bought before the wine has been bottled and are still in the barrel. They are bought in bond – i.e. excluding duty and VAT. For many wines, buying ‘en primeur’ allows you to buy at a better price than buying after the wine has been bottled and shipped. The wine typically arrives in the UK one to three years after the harvest, therefore up to two years after you have made your purchase.

Vega Sicilia: The Importance

Located in Ribera del Duero, not far from Valladolid, Bodegas Vega Sicilia is described by Robert Parker as: “the most prestigious wine estate in Spain”. Hugh Johnson famously paralleled Spain and Bordeaux, comparing Marqués de Riscal and Marqués de Murrieta to Lafite-Rothschild and Mouton-Rothschild, and saying that “Vega Sicilia is the Latour”. Michael Broadbent MW made a similar comparison, calling it “the Lafite of Spain”, Jancis Robinson has spoken of a “Pomerolisation” of Vega Sicilia, and the estate uses Bordeaux varietals. As a result many refer to it as Spain’s First Growth.

Neal Martin describes Vega Sicilia as the country’s: “one Koh-i-noor diamond that has represented the apogée of Spanish wine for over a century.” But he does not wholly buy-into the comparison with Bordeaux, saying: “Whilst clarets grow old like Conservative members of parliament…”, Vega Sicilia’s wines “…age like the Rolling Stones. Their mercurial nature adds to their charm and I sincerely hope that they adhere to the idiosyncratic method of production that imbues this wine with so much character and ‘fun’.” His colleagues at Wine Advocate agree that “Vega Sicilia remains a benchmark for the world’s great red wines.”

Vega Sicilia boasts a myriad of old vines, some in excess of 100 years old. The result is extremely low yields and wines of an almost unparalleled concentration.

Vega Sicilia: The Insight

The winery produces three cuvées. The flagship is Unico, a perennially high-scoring blend of Tempranillo and Cabernet Sauvignon, which is aged for almost ten years, around six in oak and three in bottle. Robert Parker awarded the 1962 vintage a perfect 100 points saying: “undoubtedly, this must be one of the greatest Spanish wines to have graced this planet.” And Neal Martin says simply: “Unico brings a smile to your face.”

However, some might argue that the jewel in the crown is Unico Reserva Especial, a multi-vintage blend, combining wines from only the finest harvests. The winery says that this is “the wine with the greatest personality”, as it takes the complexity of Unico, and compounds it through using several vintages. Wine Advocate has said: “The Reserva Especials are blended to a house style designed to reflect Vega Sicilia at its very best.” They go on to say that “The vagaries of vintage are blended away leaving a wine that is, in my opinion, better than any of the single vintage wines with the possible exception of the 1942.”

Valbuena 5° (or Valbuena No. 5) comes from the younger vines and years when Unico is not produced, it therefore offers an affordable entry to this illustrious estate. The five denotes that it has been aged for five years before release.

Vega Sicilia: The Background

Vega Sicilia was founded by Don Eloy Lecanda y Chaves, a winemaker who learned his art in Bordeaux and brought back many of the grape varieties with him to the region. The winery takes is name from the ‘green’ and bucolic surroundings and a reference to Saint Cecilia, the patron saint of musicians. A string of illustrious winemakers has filtered through Vega Sicilia, culminating in the incumbent Xavier Ausás, whose goal is to make wines with “persistent aromas” and “femininity rather than masculine tannins”.

The Alvarez family bought Vega Sicilia from a Venezuelan businessman in 1982 just as Ribera del Duero received its Denominación de Origen (D.O.) status. They also own neighbouring Bodegas Alión, where they produce Alión - a modern-style and upfront Tempranillo aged in French oak. An additional arm of the family business produces Pintia, a wine that tames the hot summers of Toro, to deliver a Tempranillo with remarkable restraint and finesse for such a warm region. Just after the fall of communism in Hungary, the Alvarez family reinvigorated Oremus, a Tokaji house between Mád and Sárospatak. The two great names of Vega Sicilia and Rothschild collaborate to produce Macán in Rioja Alta.

FINE+RARE offers UK home delivery through our logistics partner London City Bond, with next day deliveries available for Central London addresses.
We deliver Monday to Friday; charges are £ 16 + VAT for up to 10 cases (12x75cl or equivalent) for most UK postcodes.
For delivery charges to Highlands, Islands and outlying areas, please contact our
Customer Service Team.

INTERNATIONAL DELIVERY:

For deliveries into Hong Kong and Singapore, we offer a dedicated air and sea service.
For more details regarding delivery to Hong Kong, Singapore and all other destinations, please view our
International Delivery information page.
Spirits cannot travel on our services to Hong Kong, Singapore or Macau and require separate shipments. Please contact our
Customer Service Team for further information.

F+R STORAGE:

Our storage costs are highly competitive. We will happily accept cases or single bottles, charging pro-rata based on the number of bottles and length of storage period.
Unlike many other wine companies, our service includes storage of duty paid wines as well as in bond from any reputable source, not just those bought through FINE+RARE.
Please visit our F+R Storage information page for more details.

IN BOND AND DUTY PAID DELIVERY TO STORAGE ACCOUNTS:

FINE+RARE can arrange delivery of your wines to your personal fine wine storage account:
Deliveries within London City Bond or to a Vinotheque storage account are charged at £ 8 + VAT for up to 10 cases (12x75cl or equivalent).
Deliveries to all other storage providers are charged at £ 16 + VAT for up to 10 cases (12x75cl or equivalent).

Existing Customers

New Customers

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